Heads up 🌎: Yesterday (Nov 13, 2025), US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR on X. His mission? Defend the homeland, remove narco-terrorists across the hemisphere, and choke off the drug routes that are fueling violence.
🔍 What's the deal? Details are scarce—Hegseth's post didn't spell out how this will differ from the ongoing US anti-drugs campaign in Caribbean and eastern Pacific waters. Since early September, US forces have struck about 20 vessels in international waters, tallying at least 76 casualties.
🛡️ Regional response: Venezuela isn't taking this sitting down. Caracas has launched a nationwide military deployment to counter the US naval build-up—complete with a newly arrived aircraft carrier strike group off its coast. President Nicolás Maduro called Washington's drug-fight rationale an "absurd pretext," likening it to the weapons of mass destruction claim in Iraq (2003).
⚖️ Why it matters: From Manila to Mumbai, young pros are plugged into global trends—this operation could shift security dynamics, impact maritime routes and stir geopolitical debates. Keep an eye on how it unfolds: could Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR mark a bigger US footstep on land? 🤔
Stay tuned as we track updates on strategy, regional pushback and what it means for global security. 🚀
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
